The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) yesterday accepted Santana Minerals Ltd application for its Bendigo-Ophir gold project, paving the way for it to move into the assessment phase of the Fast-track Approvals legislation.
Santana chief executive Damian Spring said the decision marked a key step forward in the project.
In the documents available on the fast-track website Santana acknowledged the project would have adverse effects on "some terrestrial ecological values" but proposed measures to mitigate, compensate or offset those effects.
It also proposed a Bendigo Ophir Gold Project biodiversity and heritage enhancement fund would provide $500,000 + GST for every year of gold production, up to a maximum of 10 years, to the local office for the Department of Conservation. The fund would contribute to improvement ecological outcomes for cushionfield habitat and/or other threatened or at-risk species within the Dunstan ecological district and enhance heritage values outside of the consent area within Central Otago, the report said.
In a statement mining opponents Sustainable Tarras said the decision was no surprise and they were upset by the decisions made by the government to include the mine in the fast-track legislation.
"This is a sad day for our environment, and for our community . . . We are outraged that the local community has been locked out to date. We are upset by the decisions made by government to include this giant, controversial mine under fast-track.
"We are extremely concerned about the long term impacts, risk, liability and perpetual damage this project will bring to Central Otago and to our local community, all of which is unsuited to a fast-tracked decision.
"It has been clear from the outset that Santana will bypass the local community and show disregard for our environment. This project is a big risk for New Zealand, and there is too much to lose in getting this wrong."
Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley said while it was a significant step it did not diminish the need for "rigorous environmental scrutiny".
"Bendigo’s gold mining heritage is an important part of Central Otago’s story, but history alone cannot justify development without clear safeguards," Mrs Alley said.
Residents could stay informed on the process through the Fast Track Act website.
"This transparency will be essential for the project to establish public confidence in its ability to deliver long-term sustainability for Central Otago," Mrs Alley said.
Mr Spring agreed, saying it was important people understood how the fast-track process unfolded and what each step meant.
"We’ll continue to keep the community and our shareholders informed as we move through every stage of the fast-track process," Mr Spring said.
He was pleased with how the submission had progressed.
"We’ve taken a careful and thorough approach in preparing our fast-track application, ensuring it aligns closely with the EPA’s procedural requirements. While it’s not uncommon for applications to go through resubmission, we’re pleased with how our submission has progressed to date — a reflection of the effort and diligence behind it."
The proposal centred on the Rise and Shine deposit, New Zealand’s largest gold discovery in four decades. Recent drilling showed the gold-bearing rock extends further north, meaning the deposit is larger than earlier estimates.
"It represents years of work by a lot of people, and the 9400 pages we submitted reflect just how seriously we’ve taken understanding the environment, geology, and the needs of the community. We’re looking forward to continuing to work constructively with the EPA and other agencies as the application moves through the next stage," Mr Spring said.
If approved, construction of the Bendigo–Ophir Project could begin in the middle of next year.
